Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: First, I have an announcement regarding my overseas visit.

I will visit Mexico, Panama, and Ecuador in Latin America from the day after tomorrow, Sunday, August 2. If circumstances permit, I will also visit Trinidad and Tobago, one of the major Caribbean countries. We are currently making necessary arrangements. During my visit, I will hold meetings with the foreign ministers and high-level government officials of each country.

In an increasingly severe international situation, cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean countries, part of the Global South that is gaining a greater voice in the international community, is becoming ever more important in maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

From this perspective, I will aim to develop more strategic partnership focused primarily on economic and economic security areas with the countries I am visiting—countries with which Japan has historically built relationships of trust and shares fundamental values. I also intend to confirm cooperation to achieve a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).”

Given the ongoing situation, I will also work to advance cooperation and collaboration with Latin American and Caribbean countries which are rich in energy, critical minerals, and other resources to strengthen energy security and the resilience of supply chains.

Ahead of my visit, I contributed an article to a Spanish-language media outlet, in which I wrote about the strategic importance of Latin America and the Caribbean for Japan and Japan’s basic policy toward the region. The article is scheduled to be published today. Taking this opportunity of my visit, I hope to further strengthen Japan’s relations with the Latin American and Caribbean.

During Golden Week, I visited Africa, which also holds a crucial position within the Global South. This summer, I have chosen Latin America and the Caribbean as my first destination.

Mainichi Shimbun, TADOKORO: Although Latin America and the Caribbean is geographically distant from Japan, the region is abundant in resources, and this visit, following your visit to Africa, could be characterized as resource diplomacy. Do you think that resource diplomacy is becoming more important than ever before for a resource-scarce country like Japan? Also, it is said that there are no choke points between Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean. What is your assessment of this claim?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: Exactly as you pointed out, amid growing uncertainty in the international situation, strengthening the resilience of supply chains, including those for energy and critical minerals, is becoming ever more important for ensuring Japan’s economic security.

The Latin American and Caribbean countries I am scheduled to visit are rich in resources, including minerals, energy, and food, and are important partners in maintaining and strengthening a rules-based, free, and fair international order.

While you pointed out that there are no choke points, Japan intends to work together with Latin American and Caribbean countries—our neighbors across the Pacific—in maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law, including in the maritime domain. During this visit, I hope to further strengthen Japan’s relations with these countries, including in the areas I have just mentioned.

Kyodo News, ONDA: I would like to ask about the response to the Kumamoto Earthquake. Countries around the world have sent messages of sympathy and offered assistance following the earthquake. You also issued a message yesterday. Taiwan has offered to dispatch its search and rescue team, while the U.S. Department of State said, in response to a media inquiry, that it stands ready to assist. How will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respond to the offers of personnel assistance and other support from various countries?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: I would like to pay my deepest respects to those who lost their lives in the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and extend my heartfelt sympathy to all those affected.

Our immediate priority is to save lives. As the affected areas continue to experience high temperatures, we also need to provide assistance for daily needs, including measures to prevent heatstroke. Furthermore, damaged buildings, roads, and various other infrastructure must be addressed. The Government of Japan is working in earnest toward the earliest possible recovery and reconstruction.

Since the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, we have received messages of sympathy and offers of assistance from more than 80 countries and regions around the world, as well as international organizations. The Government of Japan expresses its sincere gratitude. In addition to issuing a message of appreciation, I have also sent messages of gratitude to each of my counterparts who conveyed their sympathy.

Local and national agencies are currently doing their utmost to conduct rescue operations and provide assistance to the affected areas. We are extremely grateful for the offers of assistance from various countries and regions around the world. As the situation evolves, we will carefully determine how best to make use of these generous offers and what specific requests to make.

TV Asahi, IIDA: I would like to ask about the situation in the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Trump posted on social media that the Board of Peace reached a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of the Hamas Islamic group and all other armed groups. Neither Hamas nor Israel has yet issued an official comment. Could you share your reaction and tell us how the Government of Japan intends to respond going forward?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The Government of Japan welcomes the agreement for the complete disarmament as an important step toward the reconstruction of Gaza, and commends the tireless mediation efforts of President Trump and all others involved.

Japan will continue to closely monitor the situation and strongly hopes that this agreement will be implemented steadily and without delay.

Japan has consistently taken a proactive role, in coordination with relevant countries and organizations, to promote the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and United Nations Security Council resolution 2803.

I myself visited Israel and Palestine in January this year. In July, we convened the fifth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) on the margins of the ASEAN-related Foreign Minsters’ meetings in Manila. Through these engagements, Japan has pursued diplomatic efforts toward the steady implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.

Japan will continue to undertake the necessary initiatives and diplomatic efforts toward the realization of a two-state solution and lasting peace and prosperity in the Middle East.